Peace through strength, Taiwan president says on China battle anniversary
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visited the Kinmen islands to commemorate the 1958 battle against Chinese forces, emphasizing that peace is maintained through military strength. He reaffirmed Taiwan's resolve to defend its sovereignty while rejecting Beijing's 'separatist' labels.
Why it matters
The statement underscores the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Taiwan Strait and the ongoing friction between Taipei and Beijing regarding territorial sovereignty.
Peace can only be secured through strength, and not even an inch of territory can be sacrificed, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday (August 23, 2026), visiting a sensitive frontline island to mark a key battle with Chinese forces almost seven decades ago.
Taiwan has controlled the Kinmen and Matsu islands, which lie just off the Chinese coast, since the Republic of China government fled to Taipei in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists. No peace treaty or armistice has ever been signed.
In heavy rain, Mr. Lai laid a wreath and bowed at a memorial park for the 68th anniversary of the 1958 clash with Chinese forces, known as the start of the second Taiwan Strait crisis — the last time Taiwanese and Chinese forces battled on a large scale.
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